Polls Deals Problems to Obama and Democrats

Two separate polls are give bad news President Obama and Democrats. Today the latest Rasmussen Reports found 46% somewhat support President Obama  performance versus 53% does not somewhat support the way he handling his job.  A negative 13 percent of support form him.   The poll gave the Republican a six point lead in the generic Congressional ballot.

60 percent of those surveyed want the Fort Hood Massacre investigated as a Terrorist act. Only  21% believe that it should be investigated as a criminal act.

Meanwhile, a Gallup poll found that the if the election was held today Republicans lead the Democrats48-44% a difference of 4%. Back in July Democrats were 6 percentage point behind.  In October they was only 2 points behind. This was 2010 Gallup Generic Congressional Ballot.

What’s worse among Independents they preferred the Republican to the Democrats a whopping 52% to 30% . That’s worrisome.

The Good news for the White House and DNC the election is a year away. The bad news if they don’t produce jobs and keep spending like there no tomorrow; they could be wiped out like 1994 when the Republican were swept in.

Rasmussen Reports

Gallup Organization

Ft. Hood Superiors Wonder About Hasan Actions

Doctors managing Major Nidal Hasan were wondering about the actions and behavior that seem questionable. Hasan religious beliefs were becoming radicalized and exhibiting unusual behavior the doctors discovered months before Hasan went on his alleged shooting rampage at Fort Hood,TX.

At   Walter Reed Army Hospital and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences military medical school felt that Major Hasan was considered  by his superiors and  fellow students , a mediocre student; disinterested, lazy  worker.

His leaders felt based on his action and behavior that he should be transferred to Fort Hood. Ft Hood would be the  best place to monitor Hasan and other doctors could fill in if Hasan caseload was too great. Superiors of the Major could monitor and record any other issues with his behavior.

Hasan superiors said that they did not believe Hasan have violent tendencies. They found has him is combative and intensive and strong religious fervor.

The Pentagon does not have any record of a request by Major Hasan to leave the  Army conscientious objector or for any reason to military official told the AP. This contradict the family statements to the media that Hasan wanted out.

Hasan did not file any complaint against his superiors nor against his fellow students about being harassed said a military official with the army under anonymous conditions.

Meanwhile, NPR reports that some at Walter Reed Army Hospital  wonder is Major Nidal Hasan was psychotic.

In the Spring of 2008, major staffers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences were asking questions about   Major Hasan mental health state.

Put it this way,” says one official familiar with the conversations that took place. “Everybody felt that if you were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, you would not want Nidal Hasan in your foxhole.”

Since his days at Walter Reed, military leader watched Hasan closely.Those who talked NPR without revealing their identities were disturbed with actions and behaviors. At his evaluations he was given poor remarks; some said his work was shoddy.

According to NPR  students and faculty found at Walter Reed, Major Hasan  disconnected, aloof, paranoid, belligerent, and schizoid. He even told a patient that “Islam can save your soul.”

Earlier this year at a meeting some were wondering if Hasan was sent to either to Iraq or Afghanistan would give away secrets to Al Qadea  or the Taliban. Or would he attacked his fellow soldiers in like the Army Sargent in 2003 who killed 2 soldiers  and injured 14 others by setting off grenades in Kuwait.

Well he did not wait to be in country to go off.

At Walter Reed getting out of the hospital corp is not easy it sounds.  The process is  laborious and time consuming. Officials said it was difficult to put a doctor like Hasan on probation.

Also Doctors and instructor as Walter Reed said went above and beyond to give support  to Hasan.  They didn’t have proof to find him unstable. Or if they found a way to remove him, Hasan could claim discrimination because of his beliefs.

Next,people were not aware of the e-mails contacts to Al Qaeda. Intelligence officials since last December learned he had attempted to contact a radical Muslim Imam in Yemen.

Lastly, officials thought transferring  Hasan to Fort Hood, would be better for him due to number of doctors and psychologists on base than anywhere in the Army.

AP via Yahoo News.

National Public Radio

Brazilian Blackout effects Millions

A massive power failure in Brazil affected Ten of millions of people in Brazil and Paraguay on Tuesday.  The problems were due to issues with transmission lines that linked to the Itaipu dam.

The blackout effected the cities of Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo the largest cities in South America. Hitting the southeastern Brazil highly urbanized area. Six states were impacted including Bel Horizonte and Sao Paulo states.

In Addition, the entire nation of Paraguay  was hit with the blackout.

Transportation was in chaotic. Trains stopped. People was abandon rail cars  to return to the surface in both Sao Paulo and Rio.

A spokesman with the operator of Itaipu Dam first blamed the dam. Later the spokesman blamed transmission lines.

“The most likely hypothesis is that there was some sort of accident that affected one or more points in the transmission system,” the operator said in a statement. “This accident probably provoked others, a phenomenon that is known as the domino effect.”

Edison Lobao, Brazilian Energy Minster told reporters in Brasilla the Brazilian Capital the cause unknown at this time. Lobao said,”atmospheric problems, an intense storm, may have contributed to or caused the transmission lines to Itaipu to shut down.”

Brazil CBN Radio says Rio de Janeiro state Governor Sergio Cabral has order additional police for safety purposes.

Reuters

Fort Hood Shooting Round Up

Here is a round up on the latest stories on Major Nidal Hasan the Fort Hood shooter.

Washington Post via FOX News learns that Hasan was to give a presentation at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington,D.C. on why Muslim military personnel should be conscientious objectors in fighting wars in avoiding “adverse events”

Hasan went on talk about homicide bombing and threats for the armed services could encounter from Muslims conflicted fighting other Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Meanwhile the Houston Chronicle is reporting the that FBI has investigated Major Hasan and his former Imam in Northern Virginia now in Yemen.

The  FBI dropped the case saying that Hasan did not pose a threat.

The New York Times points out the FBI and the Pentagon intercepted the messages  between  Anwar al-Awlaki and Major Hasan  anywhere from 10 to 20 times. The first time was in December of 2008 as part of a different investigation. The communique   between  Al Awlaki and Hasan were not violent.

“There was no indication that Major Hasan was planning an imminent attack at all, or that he was directed to do anything,” one senior investigator said. He and the other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying the case was under investigation.

The AP reports that the Pentagon and Army are playing the blame game .

The department of defense had an investigator was into Major Hasan contacts with his former Imam. But another military official denied knowing of Hasan contacting the Imam.

The Wall Street Journal says the Army did not know about the e-mails between Major Nidal Hasan and his former Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki until after the Ft. Hood massacre.

ABC News is investigating other contacts that Major Hasan may have got in touched with. These people who the FBI is looking into more unexplained connections to Hasan.

Sources in Congress told ABC News the name and country will be revealed in the days, week and months ahead.

Washington Post via FOX News

Houston Chronicle

New York Times

AP via Yahoo News

Wall Street Journal

ABC News

Obama is OK With Punishing Those Who Do Not Buy Health Insurance.

In an interview with ABC News White House Correspondent  Jake Tapper President Obama agrees with Rep. John  Dingel Bill on Health Care which charges a fine if the individual refuses to by health insurance. Obama believes penalties are need for people using “free ride” on health care system.

However, The president did not give support or opposition  to sending people to jail for not paying for the fine for not buying health insurance.

What I think is appropriate is that in the same way that everybody has to get auto insurance and if you don’t, you’re subject to some penalty, that in this situation, if you have the ability to buy insurance, it’s affordable and you choose not to do so, forcing you and me and everybody else to subsidize you, you know, there’s a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are — are burdened by because of the fact that people don’t have health insurance, you know, there’s nothing wrong with a penalty.”

While that provision is in the house bill contains fines the Senate bills hsd the provision removed.

Obama says the penalties are needed to that people don’t  abuse the system. But not so punishing that the people financial situations get worse.

“I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren’t subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance.  That’s — that’s basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by,” Mr. Obama said, “penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.”

The  president didn’t think  the questions penalties including jail time was a  major issue.

So much for freedom. By the way Mr. President health insurance is not like car insurance. If your own a car you maybe compelled to buy insurance or pay a fine. The key phrase is own are car. Charging a fine is ridiculous.

ABC News

Ida Making Landfall Between Mobile and Panama City

A weakened Tropical Storm  Ida is barreling down on the Gulf Coast between Panama City,Fl and Mobile, AL Tuesday. The national weather service has issued tropical storm warning from Grand Isle, LA to Aucilla River,Fl. The warning including the city  and parish of New Orleans  and Parishes surrounding Lake PONTCHARTRAIN.

At 9P.M. CST Ida was moving north 13 mph; a decrease of speed. When Ida makes landfall near Mobile Ida will make a turn to the north-northeast; bringing heavy seas, high winds and heavy rains. Maximum sustained winds is 65 mph.

Tropical Storm force winds will be felt in a radius of  200 miles.

Ida is expected to bring between 3-6 inches of rain. Some isolated storm cells will dump up to 8 inches of rain across portions of the Southeast US and Mid-Atlantic states.

Schools, and government offices except first responder will be closed.

Storm surge will cause 3 to 5 feet above ground.

WKRG has a list of Shelters in the Mobile area.

WJHG-TV/HD “NewsChannel7″ has the list of  shelters in Panama City,FL area.

WKRG-TV/HD “News5″

WJHG-TV/HD

Controversy: US Attorney General Speaks at CAIR Event

 

US Attorney General Eric Holder, the nations top cop will be speaking at an event in Detroit that will have members of Michigan branch of CAIR  the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Except one thing there The FBI has cut off all ties with CAIR in 2007.

The event hosted by Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust, a coalition of several dozen law enforcement and community group including  the ACLU and US Department of Justice.  A flyer list CAIR as a participant

Holder will speak at the Event which will be held on November 19 in Detroit.

In 2007, The FBI severed ties with the controversial group after federal prosecutors  in the trial of Officers of the Texas Religious charity and group  Holy Land  Foundation for Relief and Development. Document show that link between CAIR and  the Muslim Brotherhood which is related to Hamas.

A spokesperson with Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust, said CAIR is member of group.

“CAIR has been involved for a while,” said Chandra McMillion, community development facilitator for ALPACT. “CAIR is listed as an official member.”

In fact the local CAIR  leader Dawud Walid, the Michigan Executive Director told the Politico that CAIR is member of ALPACT.

“It’s really nothing controversial. We’ve been part of this organization for years,” he said. “We meet every month and included with us is the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI.”

Walid regularly with members of ALPACT. “A lot of people are there: the NAACP, the ACLU, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee…the National Lawyers’ Guild,” he said.

Calls to the Department  of Justice were referred  to the FBI field office in Detroit. FBI office in Detroit referred to FBI headquarters in Washington,D.C.

A spokesman with the FBI confirmed of Special Agent-In-Charge in Detroit Andy Area will be the host.

“We are co-chairing the event. We are not sponsoring the event,” spokeswoman Jennifer Burnside said. She said the FBI “didn’t have any role” in selling tickets for the event or in issuing invitations.

Burnside also stressed the fact that the dinner is not a closed briefing. “It’s a public event and Joe off the street could attend,” she said.

Another reason the FBI is involved is the tribute to  FBI agent  Paul Sorce, an  agent that was killed in the line of duty while preforming surveillance

“Honoring a fallen agent is very important to us,” Burnside said.

Asked about the FBI’s policy regarding CAIR  Burnside said, “Our policy doesn’t prohibit the FBI participating in meetings where CAIR is going to be involved.”

Former Federal Prosecutor Andrew McCarthy, was disappointed but not surprise of the FBI involvement with CAIR.

I wish I could say I’m surprised but I’m not remotely surprised,” McCarthy said. “When [the FBI] said they cut off formal ties with them, whenever they say something like that you have to look very carefully at the way it’s worded… The last administration was guilty of it, this administration is guilty of it—they have determined it is more important to have what it can publicly hold out as ties to the Muslim community than it is to be careful about who you have the ties with.”

The Politico has more.

Did Major Hasan Attempt to Contact Al Qaeda???

New Questions has arisen now that the Army and Feds knew that Major Nidal Hasan had tried to contact Al Qaeda ABC news has learned.

US intelligence agencies including the CIA have been monitoring Major Nidal  for months  discovered he was trying Al Qaeda by “electronic means” brief ABC news anonymously on classified material.

Brian Ross of ABC News says the Army was aware but what was done about it is not certain.

Republican  Representative Pete  Hoekstra of Michigan the top ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee is asking the CIA and other agencies of   what was known and what is being done. The CIA rebuffed  Hoeksta.

Rep. Hoekstra issued what a called a document preservation request to CIA head Leon Panetta. The letter dated on November 7th went to the following agency heads Dennis Blair(DNI),  Robert Mueller(FBI); Lt. Gen Keith Alexander (NSA) and Leon Panetta (CIA).

Hoekstra is “absolutely furious” that the requests were denied to the intelligence committee.

“This is a law enforcement investigation, in which other agencies—not the CIA—have the lead,” CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said in a response to ABC News. ” Any suggestion that the CIA refused to brief Congress is incorrect.”

Investigators want find out if Hasan  was in touch with radical Muslim Cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who was the head of a mosque in Falls Church,VA in Suburban Washington,D.C. Al Awlaki is now in Yemen.

Ironically, Cleric al Awlaki posted on his blog:

“Nidal Hassan Did the Right Thing,” Awlaki calls Hasan a “hero” and a “man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people.”

The AP learned the Hasan attended the same mosque in Falls Church that Al Awlaki preached at about  time of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The London Telegraph  revealed that Al Awlaki  had made contact with two of the 9/11 hijackers when he was based in San Diego. Al Awlaki denied knowing the hijackers and he was never charged. Soon Afterward Al Awlaki left for Yemen.

On Sunday, Senator Joseph  Lieberman(I-CT) wonders out loud if Hasan is a Radical Muslim extremist and calls for an investigation to find out if the Army missed clue into Hasan’s mindset.

“If Hasan was showing signs, saying to people that he had become an Islamist extremist, the U.S. Army has to have a zero tolerance,” Lieberman told Fox News Sunday.

ABC News

Eyes on Hurricane Ida for The Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Ida has left death and destruction in its wake. It is on a collision course with US Gulf Coast. Ida has killed 91 people in El Salvador. Sixty people were missing. The cause of the missing was mudslides and floods.

US oil refiners has evacuated oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. Louisiana Offshore Oil plant. The facility that can handle larger supertankers have stop unloading ships  due to the storm.

A quarter of the US oil refining 15 percent of natural gas are produced in the  Gulf of Mexico. The  region produces 40% of the nations refining capacity.

The National Hurricane Center in Florida has issues a Hurricane watch from Grand Isle, LA to Mexico Beach,Fl.  New Orleans was not including.

Governor Bobby Jindal,  of Louisiana has proclaimed a state of Emergency on Sunday. This allows the government mobilized first responders.

The government in Mexico has called for mandatory evacuations for islands in the Caribbean Sea. However, the government will  not evacuate Cancun resorts.

Reuters

Secretary of US Army Warns Against Looking at Muslim Soliders

Army Secretary is concerned that Thursday shooting by Major Nidal Hassan will paint all Muslim soldiers as unpatriotic because of their religious beliefs.

General George Casey warns not to cast aspersions Muslim soldier and officers that would “cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers.”

General Casey who appeared on three network news magazines including “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,”  asking for calm. Casey set out to remind the public the good of diversity.

“A diverse Army gives us strength,” General Casey, who visited Fort Hood Friday, said on “This Week.”

“The speculation could heighten the backlash,” he said on “This Week.” “What happened at Fort Hood is a tragedy and I believe it would be a greater tragedy if diversity became a casualty here.”

Senator Lindsy Graham on CBS News program “Face the Nation” Along with Senator Jack Reed of Senate Armed Services Committee pointed out Muslims have served with honor in the Army.

“At the end of the day this is not about his religion — the fact that this man was a Muslim,” Senator Graham said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

He added: “To those members of the United States military who are Muslims, thank you for protecting our nation, thank you for standing up against the people who are trying to hijack your religion.”

Senator Graham renews his support for Muslim soldiers and officers.

“I mean does every soldier who shows discontent with the war and every soldier that has had a bad performance report — what are we going to do with those folks?” Sen. Graham said. “At the end of the day, maybe this is just about him. It’s certainly not about his religion, Islam.”

New York Times